Mounser

Texas native Amanda Assad Mounser founded her namesake jewelry line, Mounser, in 2009. Taking cues from both nature and modernist art, the New York-based label brings a sculptural approach to jewelry design. With pieces veering towards a unique form of abstract minimalism, Mounser draws inspiration from the sculptural works of Isamu Noguchi, Jean Arp, and Alexander Calder. A self-proclaimed collage artist (albeit one working with metal), Mounser combines seemingly disparate elements in an attempt to strike perfect harmony between each piece—the end product only achieves organic fluidity through the very process of having been reworked. Experimenting with notions of balance and proportion, the designer’s asymmetric and exaggerated silhouettes find form in the negative and positive spaces they embody: mismatched drop and crystal-embellished earrings complement chain-link collars and asymmetric necklaces. Working with elevated materials—sterling silver, 14k plated gold, freshwater pearls, and Swarovski crystals—Mounser’s pieces are intended as small art objects. As the designer herself remarks of her compositions: “They are pieces that you connect to, collect, and keep with the promise to one day pass down.